Around 80 percent of adults experience low back pain, and if you also have a problem, know that you are not alone. This is fixable. The main thing is to understand the origin of pain, but there can be many factors. We have compiled the main causes of low back pain that can cause back difficulties. How to relieve illness? There are ways.
Back pain can appear at any age and with any physical fitness. So, there is a dull, constant or periodic pain, and there is a sudden acute attack, after which it is difficult for a person to move. Pain can appear abruptly due to heavy lifting, it can develop with age due to changes in the spine or as a result of an accident. A sedentary lifestyle is also a significant cause of low back pain. Especially when everyday routine is not diluted with physical activity (workout, swimming pool, fitness, yoga).
In most cases, low back pain is acute and short-term or less severe, but lasts from a few days to a couple of weeks. In such cases, a person still does not lose his activity, the ability to move and serve himself in everyday life.
Subacute pain is pain that persists after an acute period and lasts 4 to 12 weeks. If after this period the pain still persists, it is called chronic. Sometimes treatment can help relieve chronic low back pain. But in some cases, the pain persists despite medical and surgical treatment.
So, lower back pain, the causes of which are often age-related and associated with wear and tear in the joints, discs and bones of the spine, or mechanical pain:
1. Sprains
This can lead to severe back pain. Stretching occurs due to improper turning or lifting of something. And also due to heavy lifting or excessive stretching. These conditions can cause spasms in the muscles of the back, which also cause pain.
2. Wear of the intervertebral disc
One of the most common causes of back pain. A manifestation of this is the loss of disk integrity, cracks appear. In a young and healthy back, the discs allow the lower part to bend, unbend, and twist. But over the years, the elasticity of the discs decreases, and they lose their shock-absorbing ability.
3. Hernia
It can appear due to the lifting of a large load, poor posture, an accident, sports injury and so on. There is fluid in the center of the lumbar disc; for various reasons it can come out and irritate the nerve root that is nearby. There are many nerve fibers in the disc wall, and tearing the wall can cause severe pain.
4. Radiculopathy
This condition occurs due to compression, inflammation and / or damage to the spinal root. What's more, the pressure on a nerve root results in pain, numbness, or tingling sensation that spreads to other parts of the body connected to that nerve. The problem can arise if the central spinal canal narrows or a hernia pinches the nerve root.
5. Sciatica
Compression of the sciatic nerve, which travels through the buttocks and extends down the back of the leg. This compression causes shock or burning pain in the lower back, combined with pain in the buttocks. And also in exceptional cases, when the nerve is squeezed between the disc and the adjacent bone, a person may feel numbness and severe weakness in the legs. By the way, this condition appears due to a tumor or cyst that presses on the sciatic nerve or its roots.
6. Spinal stenosis
In the case of this disease, in addition to lower back pain, a person may experience numbness or weakness in the legs when walking. And also with loss of sensitivity.
7. Scoliosis and other skeletal disorders
People usually do not experience special problems with curvature of the spine until middle age.
Low back pain is not often associated with serious medical conditions. But you still need to be aware of their existence in order to have time to consult a doctor in a timely manner. Defeating the diseases listed below is possible only with medical help. This:
1. Infections
These are not causes of lower back pain, but can affect the vertebrae (osteomyelitis), intervertebral discs (discitis), or sacroiliac joints (sacroiliitis).
2. Tumors
Sometimes a tumor appears in the back (and at certain stages, of course, there will be pain and other symptoms), but most often these are metastases that have spread due to cancer in other parts of the body.
3. Cauda equina syndrome
Disease sometimes accompanied by a ruptured disc. This is because the disc material is pressed into the spinal canal and compresses the bundle of the lumbar and sacral nerve roots. In connection with this ailment, a person may have problems with urination and intestines.
4. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
This occurs when a large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes abnormally dilated. In addition, lower back pain can be a signal that the aorta has increased and there is a risk of rupture.
5. Kidney stones
Stones can cause severe pain in the lower back (usually on one side).
Other factors and causes that can cause back pain:
- Inflammatory diseases of the joints.For example, arthritis, spondylitis, vertebral inflammation.
- Osteoporosis. This is a bone disease that is accompanied by a decrease in bone density and strength, which can lead to vertebral fractures.
- Endometriosis.A female disease that can be accompanied by pain in the pelvis and lower back.
- Fibromyalgia.Pain syndrome, accompanied by muscle pain and fatigue. It is chronic.
What to do with back pain?
First, you need to get a good understanding of the causes of pain. What may help for one condition will not make (and perhaps even aggravate) another. And in some cases, urgent hospitalization is required. That is why be sure to listen to the signals of the body and, if necessary, consult a doctor or take appropriate measures.
Ways to Deal with Low Back Pain:
1. You can give your back a rest after a certain period of time
Many back problems can be solved (or alleviated) by avoiding strenuous activities. However, it is not recommended to rest for more than a few days, as too long inactivity can make treatment difficult.
2. Limited activity
This means staying active but avoiding actions and attitudes that increase pain. For example, if long periods of sitting in the car or at the desk make the pain worse, then set a timer to get up every 20 minutes and walk or stretch gently. Minimizing activities and positions that worsen pain will help prevent or ease painful cramps and speed up the healing process.
3. Cold / heat therapy
A warm bath, heating pads, body wrap are suitable for relaxing tense muscles and improving blood flow. If your back pain is due to inflammation, you can try applying ice or cold compresses to reduce swelling. It is important to protect the skin during procedures to prevent tissue damage.
4. Pain medications
The most common over-the-counter drugs are anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve back pain caused by swollen nerves or muscles. And also in some cases, an analgesic can help. B vitamins, muscle relaxants, various gels and ointments are effective.
5. Physiotherapy
Usually part of the treatment for low back pain. Stretching is helpful: the more mobile the muscles, the better the back can move without injury. It is recommended to start small - stretch the muscles of the lower back, buttocks, thighs, legs for 20-30 seconds and stop stretching if it hurts.
You also need to strengthen the muscles in your abdomen, thighs and buttocks that support your spine. Low-impact aerobic exercise increases blood flow and promotes injury healing without spinal concussion. For example, you can exercise on stationary bicycles and elliptical trainers, walk and swim.
In fact, any exercise that keeps the heart cycle healthy for a long time is beneficial for the body. Regular physical activity is essential to maintain the freedom of movement and flexibility of a healthy spine.